Are Deer Antlers Safe For Dogs?
Are Deer Antlers Safe for Dogs?
Deer Antlers are a popular choice of chew for many dog owners. There are various types available on the market (such as full antlers, fallow antlers or split versions) but ultimately, are they safe?
Yes!
High quality Deer Antlers are completely safe for your dogs to chew, this is because they are very unlikely to split and leave sharp edges. Deer antlers stay supple, don’t dry out, splinter or become brittle. They require time, patience and effort for your dog to break down the antler which makes them a perfect, long lasting chew.
The choking risk with Deer Antlers is small, as the antler is too large to gulp whole (but you should remove the antler once it is suitable worn down
Are Antlers digestible?
Surprisingly yes. As your dog gnaws on the deer antler, it starts to reduce in size as small pieces are worn away and ingested. Antlers naturally contain zinc, iron, calcium and potassium, all of which have many nutritional benefits for your dog.
At what age can my dog have an antler and what size and type is best?
Our Split Deer Antlers are a perfect chew for puppies from 10 weeks of age. The split antlers are slightly easier on the teeth so perfect for teething puppies. The inside of the antler is much like a honeycomb texture which most dogs love to chew at.
More aggressive chewers may prefer our Full Antlers that take longer to gnaw on. But be careful if your dog has particularly powerful jaws as teeth can be broken on deer antlers if they bite down too hard. Antlers are designed to be gnawed not chomped.
If you have got a passionate chewer you could consider other long-lasting chews such as our Yak Bars, Camel Scalp and Deer Hide.
The Benefits of Deer Antlers - A Natural Dental Chew
The main benefit of deer antlers is not only to keep your dog occupied - they also help to keep teeth clean by acting as a natural dental chew. Gnawing at the antler helps to remove plaque off your dog’s teeth and therefore keep them clean and white. It is shown that if a dog chews on an antler for thirty minutes per day it can reduce the plaque on their teeth by 70%.
Antlers are also hypoallergenic meaning they are perfect for those dogs who have more sensitive tummies.
They also don’t have an odour which makes it a nice change from most other treats, and you don’t need to hide it away in another room or outside. Your pooch can sit comfortable with the antler in the same room and there won’t be a smell at all.
Dolly & Reggie both love our naturally shed deer antlers so it’s a big thumbs up from us.
Laura, Dolly & Reggie
Deer Antlers and other long lasting chews
Our shed Deer Antlers for dogs are 100% natural. They are the perfect choice for dogs on low fat diets. Full of minerals and nutrients which includes calcium and phosphorus, these low fat long-lasting dog chews help maintain good oral health.
We also sell Split Deer Antlers which are not quite as long lasting but more gentle on the teeth.
Split Deer Antlers for dogs are an excellent source of entertainment for dogs that enjoy chewing but are not 'power chewers'. Split antlers allow dogs easy access to the honeycombed 'inside' of the antler that is kinder to the teeth and jaws than our standard deer antlers.
Buffalo Horns are long-lasting natural dog chews that provide hours of fun for dogs large and small. Our natural dog chews are untreated and hollow making them a great alternative to antlers.
Our Yak Bars are healthy long-lasting natural dog chews which are a great choice for dogs from 8 weeks of age onwards. Made from 100% compressed, hardened yak milk are virtually odourless. Rich in protein and gluten-free, our Yak Bars are great for allergy sufferers.
Our Deer Hide is an exceptionally long lasting, natural healthy treat for dogs of all sizes and a fantastic addition to our Exotics Range. Each stick measures 25cm (approximately) which vary in size and weight due to the natural drying process.
Our Camel Scalp an exceptionally long lasting, low fat, natural healthy treat for dogs of all sizes and a fantastic addition to our Exotics Range. Our Camel Scalp is available in 15cm (approximately) sticks which vary in size and weight due to the natural drying process.
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